Worktable guide for shaping machines



Aug. 9, 1932. w. F. ZIMMERMANN 1,870,434

WORKTABLE GUIDETOR SHAPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 23. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1I anoemto'c 5513 Glam/W Aug. 9, 1932. w. F. ZIMMERMANN 1,870,434

WORKTABLE GUIDE FOR SHAPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 23. 929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3W'ILLIAIE F. ZI'MMERMANN, OF

EBERHARDT, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION Patented Aug. 9, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB '10 GOULD 80OF NEW JERSEY WORKTAIBLE GUIDE FOR SHAPING MACHINES Application filedThis invention relates to work-table guides for shaping machines and itconstitutes an improvement over the construction forming the subjectmatter of my United States patent application Serial No. 229,542 filedOctober 29, 1927, which has matured into Patent No. 1,7 53,1 13 datedApril 1, 1930.

An object of this invention is to provide a work-table guide orcross-rail as they are commonly called, which will more rigidly supportthe work-table than will any heretofore provided.

A further object is to provide a worktable guide which will have all ofthe ad vantages of the construction disclosed in said application andwhich will afford the additional advantages of having fewer bearingsurfaces and which therefore will be easier and less expensive to build.

Another object is to provide a cross-rail in which, by a singleadjustment, all play may be taken up between the various complementalbearing surfaces of the cross-rail and the work-table slidingly mountedthereon.

Still another object is to provide a crossrail in which adjustmentbetween the bearing surfaces of the cross-rail and work-table may beeffected difierentially at opposite ends of the cross-rail, thereby tocompensate for unequal wearing of the surfaces due, for example, tocontinued use of the shaper with the table adjacent one end of the rail.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in suchdrawings, like char acters of reference denote corresponding partthroughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a shaping machine embodying apreferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a left end elevation ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of my improved crossNovember 23, 1929. Serial No. 409,287.

rail and complemental work-table thereto. Fig. 4. is a detail sectionalview showing a first modified construction adapted to afford the desiredadjustments and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating a secondmodified form.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention isillustrated as embodied in a shaping machine comprising a base 1, frame2, reciprocating tool-carrying ram 3 and a horizontal cross-rail ortable guide 4 upon which is slidingly supported a worktable T. Thecross-rail is vertically adjustable on the frame 2, such adjustmentpreferably being effected by a screw 6 and a co-operating nut 7, one ofwhich is adapted to be rotated relative to the other. Clamp bolts 8,carried by the cross-rail and projecting through slots 9 formed inbearing plates 10 provided by the machine frame, and through a clampplate 11, are fitted with nuts 12 which co-operate with the bolts toclamp and securely lock the cross-rail to the frame in all of itsvertical positions. The work-table may comprise a single casting andhave bearing surfaces fitted to the bearing surfaces of the cross-railbut preferably, for convenience of manufacture and assembling, it willbe made in two pieces, one the work supporting portion 5 and the other asaddle 13, secured to the portion 5 as illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 3, and providing the bearing surfaces complemental to those of thecross-rail.

To enable the work-table to be fed horizontally along thecross-rail afeed screw 14 is journaled lengthwise in the cross-rail and this screwhas a threaded connection with a nut 15 fixed to the work-table. Eithermanual or power means, or both, may be provided for effecting relativerotation between the feed screw and its co-operating nut. In thedrawings the feed screwis shown as having one end squared, as at 16, toreceive a conventional hand crank.

The improved cross-rail is preferably made as a casting and is suitablyribbed and cored to provide the required strength with a minimum amountof weight. The cross-rail comprises a rear wall 17 having bearingsurfaces fitted to vertically disposed guideways prois provided {65yield to thosestresses iii.

vided by the frame 2, a forwardly projecting wall or portion 19 at itsupper edge, and a forwardly projecting wall 20 at its lower edge.Intermediate its edges the cross-rail with forwardly projecting portion21 substantially rectangular in cross section, which for conveniencehereinafter will be referred to as a ledge or ledge member. This memberprovides, at its upper face, a relative wide bearing surface or seat 22which sustains the weight of the work-table. The forward face 23 of theledge member 21 also is finished and forms a thrust bearing surface toprevent inward movement of the up per portion of the table. Extending upwardly from the'lower horizontal wall 20, and formed integraltherewith, is a vertically disposed wall 24 affording at its front facea bearing surface-25 constituting a. thrust bearing forpreventing inwardmovement of the lower portion of the work-table. The upper portion ofthe wall 2 1 is connected with the rear wall17 by a transverse wall 26.The walls 17, 19,20, 2st and-26 and the ledge member 21 extend the fulllength of the cross rail and are all integral, being. connectedtogetherat their ends by end walls 27 and 28.

In the preferred embodiment of theinvention' the-forwardly projectingportion 19 has adjustably secured to it a substantially L- shaped bar orstrap member 29 having a lower upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearingface 30-arranged preferably at about thirtyfive degrees from thehorizontal. This strap is adjustable vertically by means ofadjusting-screws 31 threaded through the portion 9 and bearing upon thelateral portion 29' ofsaid strap. Clamp screws 32, passing freelythrough enlarged openings in the strap and threaded into theportion 19,serve rigid- 1y to secure thestrap to the portion 19in all ofthe-adjusted positions of the strap; The table T is provided withfinished bearing'surfaces 33 and 34 adapted: to engage: the surfaces23'and 25 ofthe cross rail, thereby to prevent inward movement of thetop and bottom; portions, respectively, of the table. Arearwardextension 35, of the table, is provided' with a horizontalbearing surface 36 adapted to'rest upon the seat 22 provided by theledge member 21 whereby the entire weight of the table is carried bysaid mem her. The extension also is-provided, at itsupper-face, with aninclined, bearing surface 37 engaging'the bearing face 30 of the strap29. uring operation of the shaper, dueto the overhang of the table andthe action-0f the tool on the work, the forward end of the table tendsto swing outwardly and downwardly about thepoint j which acts as afulcrum. Portions of the table located 'rearwardlyof the-fulcrum pointtend to move upwardly and outwardly. If permitted to the rear edge ofthe table would assume-a position somewhat as indicated by dot-dashlines (1 in Fig. 3. How' ever, with the improved cross-rail all inward,outward, upward and downward movement of the table is positivelyprevented. The strap 29 performs the dual function of holding the upperportion of the. table against upward and outward movement.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that in the present cross-rail,only four table bearing surfaces are required to be finished to wit:surfaces 22, 23, 25 and 30.

asmuch as the finishing of such bearing surfaces is a decidedlyexpensive operation, requiring many hours of hand scraping, it will beapparent that any reduction in the number of surfaces will result in acorresponding reduction in the cost of manufacture. This invention hasnot only reduced the cost of manufacture but at the same time hasproduced a structure which will better resist the strains to which thecross-rail is subjected. This latter is due partly to the fact that thelever arm between the fulcrum f and the inclined bearing surface whichtakes the upward and. outward thrust is substantially longer than inprior constructions, said bearing, in the present construction, beinrplaced at theupper part of the cross-rail a ove the table seat insteadof beneath the table seat adjacent the central portion of the cross-railas in prior constructions. As hereinbefore stated, vertical adjustmentof the strap 29 compensates for wear on the bearing surfaces'23, 3322,36

and 30, 37. An important feature ofthis inii vention resides in theability of the strap tobe adjusted differentially at its opposite endsthereby to compensate for uneven wear on thebearing surfaces due'tocontinued use of the machine with the table adjacent one end of thecross-rail. In the preferred construction'the differential adjustment iseffected by individual adjustment of thescrews 31. V

In prior shaping machines no means was provided for'adjusting thebearings diiferll ently at their opposite ends and therefore difiicultywas experienced when thebearings had become worn more at one end of thecrossrail than at the 0th ment to take up the play in the end having thegreater wear would cause binding at the end having the lesser wear.

In the modified construction shown inzFig.

4, play between the bearing surfaces is taken adjustment of the strap29.

up by horizontal Tothat end shims s are initially placed between thestrap and the portion 19 of the cross-rail when the machine is built andare removed as required to permit the strap to be adjusted inwardly bythe bolts 32.

I Fig. 5 illustrates a second modification in which the overhangingportion 19 of the cross-rail, corresponding to the portion 19 of Fig. 1,and the downwardly extending portion 39, corresponding tothe strap 29,are

er inasmuch as adjustformed integral. In this construction adjustment totake up wear between the bearmg surfaces is eflected by an endwisemovable tapered gib 38 inserted between the overhanging and downwardlyextending portion 39 of the cross-rail and the portion 40 of the table.This construction, however, does not admit of differential adjustment tocompensate for unequal wear as do the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 4. i

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore such adaptations should be, and areintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims:

Having thus revealed this invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureing combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patentof the United States:

1. A shaper combining a frame, a cross-rail mounted thereon andaffording a relatively wide horizontal disposed table-supporting seat; awork-table translatably mounted on said cross-rail and having a lateralextension fitted to said seat, said extension being provided, above saidseat, with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surface; aportion of said cross-rail projecting forwardly over the extension ofsaid work-table and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearingsurface contacting with the first named bearing surface solely to holdsaid work-table against upward and outward movement.

2. A shaper combining a frame; a crossrail mounted thereon and affordinga relatively wide horizontally disposed table-supporting seat; awork-table fitted to said seat and supported thereby, said work-tablebeing provided, above said seat, with an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined bearing surface, and a portion of said cross-rail overlyingsaid seat and having a bearing surface in contact with the first namedbearing surface to hold said table against upward and outward movementrelative to said seat.

3. A machine tool combining a frame; a cross-rail supported thereon; amember fitted to and translatably mounted on said cross-rail, saidcross-rail providing a horizontally disposed seat for supporting theweight of said member, a vertical bearing surface to prevent movement ofsaid member toward said cross-rail, and a portion overlying said seatand providing a single bearing surface to prevent upward and outwardmovement of said member relative to said the followseat, theobearingsurfaces of said cross-rail engaging complemental bearing surfaces onsaid translatable member. 4

4. A shaper combining a frame; a crossrail mounted thereon; a work-tabletransmounted onsaid cross-ra1l; a feedscrew journaled in saidcross-rail; a feed nut supported by said table and engaging said screw;a ledge member provided by said cross-rail, said ledge member beinglocated above said feed screw and aflording a vertical bearing surfaceand a relatively wide horizontal seat; a second vertical bearing surfaceprovided by said cross-rail below said feed-screw, said work-table beingsupported by saidseat andheld against movelatably ment toward saidcross-rail by said vertical bearing surfaces, said work-table havingabove said table-seat an inclined bearing surface and a portion of saidcross-rail overhanging said inclined bearing surface and engaging thesame to prevent upward and outward movement of said table.

5. A shaper combining a frame; a crossrail mounted thereon and affordinga relatively wide horizontally disposed tablesupporting seat; awork-table translatably mounted on said cross-rail and having a lateralextension 'eral extension bemg provided above said seat fitted to saidseat, said latwith an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surface amember adjustably secured to said cross-rail above said extension andhaving an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surface contactingwith the first named bearing surface to prevent upward and outwardmovement of said table; means to adjust said member to compensate forwear on said bearing surfaces; and a thrust bearing provided by gagingthe lower portion of the cross-table to prevent inward movement of thelower portion of the table.

6. A shaper combining a frame; a cross- 7 rail mounted thereon saidcross-rail compris-' ing a vertically disposed thrust bearing wall atits lower edge, a horizontally disposed seat above its center line and aforwardly projecting portion at its upper edge; a worktable supportedupon said seat and having a portion abutting said thrust bearing, saidtable also having a portion underlying the forwardly projecting portionof said crossrail, said underlying portion of the table being formedwith an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surface, a strapadjustably supported on the forwardly projecting portion of saidcross-rail, said strap having an inclined bearing surface in overlyingcontact with the first mentioned in-" clined bearing surface; adjustingscrews threaded through the forwardly projecting portion of saidcross-rail and engaging said strap to adjust the strap thereby to forcesaid inclined bearing surfaces together; and

said cross-rail and enclamp. screws engaging said strap to lock it inits adjusted positions. v

7. A shaper combining a frame a crossrail; supported thereby; saidcross-rail providing a" verti'cal bearing surface adjacent its loweredge and a horizontal seat above the center line thereof, a' work-tablesupported upon, said seat and abutting against said vertical bearingsurfacegand aportion of said cross-rail hooking over and engaging anupwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surface provided by saidwork-table above said seat, for holding said table against upward andoutward movement. 15- 8. A shaper combining a frame; a crossrail mountedthereon and affording ahori- .zontallyjdisposed table supporting seat;;awork-table translatably mounted on' said cross-rail and supported bysaid seat, said 20 table being. provided above said seat with anupwardly and rearwardly inclinedbearing surface; a member substantiallycoextensive with said crosssrail and adjustably W secured thereto abovesaid seat and having 8 an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bearingsurface contacting with the first named bearing surface toprevent'upward and outward movement of said table; and means to adjustsaid member differentially to'compensate for unequal wear on saidbearing surfaces. r 7 In witness'whereof, I have hereunto subscribed myname.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMAN N

